Faith & Parish

The church's celebration of Pentecost highlights the "life-changing power of God's presence" believers receive through the Holy Spirit, said Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl.

Although the feast, celebrated June 8, doesn't look as it did in the apostles' time -- with the roar of wind and tongues of fire -- the cardinal said it serves as a reminder of the outpouring of God's spirit long ago and continuously.

"The Holy Spirit comes regularly" and is "active in the church today," he said.

On May 18, 1789, about two dozen priests then serving in the new United States of America met at a chapel in White Marsh and had an election at which they nominated Fr. John Carroll to be the first Catholic bishop of the United States.

That fall, Pope Pius VI appointed Carroll as the nation's first Catholic bishop to lead the new Baltimore diocese, which at that time encompassed the Catholic community living in all 13 original states.

Initial reviews of responses from around the world on questionnaires about church teaching on the family in advance of this fall's extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family show that the teaching is misunderstood, said a cardinal who will run one the synod's sessions.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila, Philippines, told Catholic News Service he found the responses "shocking, if I am allowed to use that word."